Rising stars: The Southern league’s best up and coming players
The Southern league is bursting with young talent. We’ve named the best 23yo-and-under players. Here’s who made the list.
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Young talent runs deep in the Southern league, and we’ve identified it.
Here are the best players aged 23 and under across all four divisions of the Southern Football Netball League:
Ky Allcock, Springvale Districts
Allcock is raw but is equally as talented. He was selected in the Southern league under-19s interleague squad this year and has played important roles for the Demons.
Robert Amendola, East Malvern
The 21-year-old has been one of East Malvern’s top performers this season. He’s been listed among the best in eight of his 12 matches and has kicked 14 goals.
Toby Arms, Springvale Districts
Arms has turned into one of the best ruckmen in the competition after his team-of-the-year season last year. He had an eye-catching 20 clearances against Dingley in the wet a few weeks ago.
Lochie Benton, Dingley
It’s easy to forget Benton is still 21. He took out Dingley’s best and fairest last year and has returned with a bang this year after a serious back injury. Benton does almost everything right and can play in a multitude of positions.
Josh Bowman, Carrum Patterson Lakes
Bowman is one of the Lions’ best up-and-coming players. He captains the under-19s and made a strong senior debut last month. Bowman unfortunately suffered a broken leg a fortnight ago against Heatherton and will spend an extended period of time on the sidelines.
Jacob Brunner, East Malvern
Brunner has been one of the Division 2 recruits of the year, being named in the Panthers’ best 12 of a possible 14 times. He rises to the bigger occasions which makes him a must-watch player come September.
Nicholas Bufalo, Bentleigh
The Demons captain is astonishingly still eligible for our rising stars. He’s played senior footy from the moment he came out of the Sandringham Dragons system. Bufalo kicked 20 goals last year and has been averaging 17 disposals and a goal per game this year.
Max Corbyn, Keysborough
Corbyn crossed from Frankston Bombers during the off-season and has been excellent. He’s been thrown in the deep end for the Burras and has thrived under the challenge.
Cody Charlton, Skye
Charlton has had an up and down year at times but his best has been very promising. A few down at Skye have earmarked him as a future leader of the club.
Lachie Conboy, Doveton
Conboy’s consistency this year would be impressing Doves’ coach Matt Stapleton. The young gun has hit the scoreboard in all but two of his 14 matches in 2024.
Jamie Connor, Lyndhurst
Connor is an under-19 eligible player but has worked away in the Lightning’s senior side the entire year. He’s been listed among his side’s best six times this year.
Mitch Cook, Dingley
Dingley has found another one in teenager Mitch Cook. He started the year in superb form, earning a place in our mid-season team of the year.
Zach Dalton, Hallam
Dalton is a talented midfielder who is the short-priced favourite to take out the Hawks’ best and fairest this year.
Nathan Dowsett, Bentleigh
The 21-year-old has had an extremely consistent year for Bentleigh, averaging 24 disposals a game in an important role. Dowsett was sublime in the Demons’ round 10 win over Chelsea Heights in particular.
Edwards give the Rosellas first use of the taps before turning into a midfielder once the ball hits the ground. He’s averaging 19 disposals and 26 hit-outs a game.
Lachlan English, Murrumbeena
English is a classy left-footer who has serious footy nous. If his debut against Doveton wasn’t a big enough statement of his talent, his goal bursting through a stoppage against East Malvern a fortnight later certainly was.
Tyler Finn, Cranbourne
Finn has been exposed to the heights of senior footy this year and his improvement each week has been obvious. Finn’s ball-use is slick and he can dance away from a tackler in the blink of an eye.
Bailey Fitzsimon, Bentleigh
Fitzsimon has played eight games for Bentleigh this year while being under-19 eligible. His two best performances for the season have come against grand finalists Cheltenham and Cranbourne.
Luca Guida, Highett
Guida has played some crucial roles in the Bulldogs’ midfield this year and was a member of the Southern league under-19 interleague squad.
Mitch Grant, Endeavour Hills
Yet another Grant out of Endeavour Hills. Mitch is fast, clean with the footy and exciting. He is still only 17, which means he’s going to be a staple of this list for many years to come.
Nick Grech, Mordialloc
Grech has brought his own footy for Mordialloc. He’s averaging a team-high 34 disposals which included a game where grabbed 47.
Madden Griffin, Hampton
Because Griffin has dominated senior footy from the moment he graduated from under-16s, few would know he’s still only 21. Griffin kicked 58 goals last year and is giving the ton a nudge this season with 76.
Jacob Hattersley, Ashwood
Hattersley is a robust inside midfielder who fights out of his weight class. He loves to tackle and get his hands dirty for his teammates.
Brodie Howie, Doveton
Howie, 20, has played 14 games in the Doves’ senior side and has kicked 10 goals.
Sam Hilton-Joyce, St Paul’s McKinnon
Hilton-Joyce crossed from Berwick before mid-season deadline and has been super impressive. The small forward pieced together a 26 disposal, 10-goal performance just two weeks ago where he was kicking them from everywhere.
Austin Johnson, Cheltenham
Johnson has played only two matches for Cheltenham this year but dominated in both of them, including a 40 disposal and two goal game against Dingley.
Will Johnston, Bentleigh
Johnston has gradually improved from the opening siren this year. He’s played 11 matches for the Demons including probably his strongest game for the club on Saturday against East Brighton.
Rex Kilburn, Cheltenham
Kilburn has been a regular in this story in recent years. He’s improved even more this season, going closer to the ball and having a big impact. Who could ever forget his goal with seconds left in the third quarter of last year’s decider?
Ryan Ladd, Lydale
Ladd leads Lyndale’s goal kicking with 36 majors from just 12 games. Pumas’ coach Brendon Greonendyk describes him simply: “freak”.
Sean Lai, Cheltenham
Lai was voted the best young gun in Division 1 this year by his opponents. He’s been slicing sides up across half back with that lethal left foot.
Josh Lai, Cheltenham
Lai has missed a lot of footy with a foot problem but when he’s played, he’s been a top player. He wasted no time in having an impact on debut and followed it up with a serious game against Springvale Districts.
Jordy Letts, Dingley
Letts took out the under-19 league best and fairest from only a handful of game last year. He’s a good ball user and is up for any challenge at senior level.
Caleb Lewis, Dingley
Lewis leads the Division 1 goal kicking after 14 rounds with 42 goals. He’s in red-hot form with 17 of those coming from his past three matches. The difference between Lewis’ best and worst this year is the only thing between him and 80-plus goals.
Michael Lewis, Dingley
Lewis has spent most of his year playing for Carlton VFL and has shown why when he’s pulled on Dingley’s jumper. He’s a coaches dream with the amount of one-percenters he stacks up in defence.
Tom Limpens, Frankston Dolphins
Limpens relentlessly puts his head over the footy and is a part of the crew who has rejuvenated the Dolphins this year.
Tom McCarthy, Highett
The dashing midfielder, who is right on the age limit for this one, has spent most of his year at Richmond VFL but has produced extraordinary performances when in Doggies colours.
Alec McComb, Cheltenham
McComb made his VFL debut for Frankston earlier this year and had 20 disposals in a win over GWS. He’s currently battling a foot injury and is racing the clock to return for the backend of the year.
Declan McComb, Cheltenham
Like teammate Rex Kilburn, McComb has climbed to a new level this year. He has upped his impact with ball in hand and hasn’t been afraid to fly for a mark when has to.
Blake Meadows, Murrumbeena
Meadows kicked five goals on senior debut and then a week later he had the Murrumbeena balcony chuckling with amazement after he dribbled through a goal from the boundary line.
Sam Merrick, Highett
Merrick is only 17 but will poll well in Highett’s best and fairest. He glides up and down the wing and uses the ball with poise.
Sonny Moore, East Brighton
Moore, who is still eligible for the under-17s, loves to jump at the footy from anywhere. He has played in all the Vampires games this year and been named in the best four times. Moore played for the Southern league under-19 interleague side.
Ollie Moran, Cheltenham
Moran is one of the competition’s best players and he’s still so young. He’s won himself a VFL spot at Frankston this year and has continued to improve. The tough wingman’s performance in the 2023 grand final was a real statement game.
Matt O’Brien, St Paul’s McKinnon
O’Brien won’t play a game in 2024 due to a knee injury but he took out the Bulldogs’ best and fairest and earned team of the year honours in 2023. He is doing all his rehab at Collingwood, meaning he will be an even bigger force in 2025.
John Ogilvy, Frankston Dolphins
Ogilvy is the goalkicking mid of the young Dolphins’ young trio, with 15 goals from 15 games this season. He’s been named in the coaches’ best four times.
Kai Stretton, Dingley
Stretton would be inside the top two of Dingley’s best and fairest as it stands and is finishing the season with a head of steam. He’s VFL-listed at Footscray but has not been able to crack into its midfield this year. With the seas parting in the league medal count, Stretton will give it a shake between rounds 10-14.
Jake Robinson, Skye
Robinson was unveiled as Skye’s youngest-ever debutant last year and he brought the club to its feet with his first goal. He’s continuing his steady rise this year, playing like a footballer far more experienced than he is.
Chris Rousakis, St Paul’s McKinnon
Rousakis was externally sliding under the radar as a top young player until he kicked five goals against Dingley in a Division 1 finals shaper. He’s kicked 12 goals from five games this year and will be an important player come September.
Dareo Rogers, Murrumbeena
The excitement machine is having another career-best year for the Lions. Rogers represented the Southern league interleague side and has ambitions to be on a VFL list.
Sam Shaw, South Mornington
Shaw can turn a game in short time. He played a huge hand in the Tigers’ flag last year and could have another say on the Division 3 premiership race if he produces his best.
Deekon Stapleton, Doveton
Stapleton is one of the Doves’ best young players but was sidelined for an extended period with a snapped tendon in his thumb.
Nick Stathopoulos, St Paul’s McKinnon
Stathopoulos has been one Division 1’s better young players for some time. He had again improved this season before doing his ACL. The exciting mid-forward should be a player VFL clubs look at.
Tyler Studd, Endeavour Hills
Studd is a young ruckman who fearlessly jumps all day and was enormous in delivering Endeavour Hills its fantastic win over Highett.
Castan Racunica, Bentleigh
The 21-year-old is seventh in the league goal kicking for his 29 goals from 13 games, which includes a six-goal haul against the ladder-leading Cheltenham.
Callum Reed, Black Rock
Reed, 22, has already claimed a senior premiership with the Jets and is one of their more important players. He started as a defender but has recently developed into a midfielder.
Jonty Robb, Port Melbourne Colts
Robb made his debut as a 16-year-old earlier this year and showed signs of being a future player.
Judd Rowell, St Paul’s McKinnon
Rowell joined the Bulldogs this year and has been a spark inside 50. He kicked seven goals – including five in a quarter – in a terrific performance against Chelsea Heights two weeks ago.
Bayley Rudd, Port Melbourne Colts
Rudd is a talented 17-year-old who has held his own in the Colts’ back six this year. He’s played six senior games to date.
James Taylor, Lyndhurst
Taylor is under-19 eligible but has played majority of the season in the Lightning’s senior side. He was a member of the Southern league under-19 interleague squad.
James Tasiyan, St Kilda City
There are few more exciting young players in Division 2 than Tasiyan. He crossed to the Saints this year to follow in the footsteps of his dad and has been sensational. Tasiyan’s game-winning goal in the under-19 interleague match was just a glimpse of what he’s capable of.
Ricky Theodoropoulos, Bentleigh
Theodoropoulos is still only 18 and is on Sandringham Dragons’ list. He’s added a goal in each of his seven games for the Demons this season and kicked three and had 24 possessions for the Dragons on Saturday.
Jack Tysoe, Heatherton
Tysoe has played 14 games for the Tunners this season and has been in the best in seven of them. He was also involved in the Southern league under-19 interleague side.
Jayden Weickhard, Hampton Park
Weickhard has been one of the Redbacks’ best players this year after crossing from Kilsyth. He finds the footy with ease and has huge upside as a future player.
Lachie Williamson, Ashwood
Williamson runs off half back all day, using his explosive pace to the Woods’ advantage.
Lochie Wrigley, Narre South Saints
Wrigley has played nine games for the Saints’ senior side this year and was a Southern league under-19 interleague representative.
Archie Zarb, Frankston Dolphins
Zarb’s one wood is winning the contested footy but he can play outside as well by using his strong left foot.
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